People-Search Giant Radaris Loses Domains After Ignoring Privacy Rules

Radaris.com, a consumer data broker that runs a large network of people-search websites, has long been known for ignoring requests to remove personal information. That reputation has now caught up with it in court.

The company was sued for allegedly violating a New Jersey privacy law. The law allows hefty fines against data brokers that publish personal information about state law enforcement officials. According to Krebs on Security, Radaris' attorneys repeatedly stonewalled and prevaricated during the case. In response, the judge ordered that radaris.com and more than a dozen other data broker domains be transferred to the plaintiffs.

For businesses, the case is a reminder that people-search sites collect and publish personal details, and that getting that information removed can be slow or ineffective. Legal action is one way regulators and individuals are now pushing back.